Jim Dooley Center for Early Learning receives Quality Stars NY Rating

GENEVA – University of Rochester Medicine Finger Lakes Health’s Jim Dooley Center for Early Learning has earned a 4-Star Provisional Rating through QUALITYstarsNY, New York State’s quality rating and improvement system for early childhood programs. The achievement recognizes the center’s commitment to providing high-quality learning experiences and care for children and families in the community.

QUALITYstarsNY uses a point system based on its Standards, which represent best practices and policies in early childhood care and education. Developed by leading experts in early childhood learning and development from across New York State and informed by research, the standards are used to assess and rate the quality of early childhood programs.

Programs earn points for meeting key quality indicators across four areas: Learning Environment, Family Engagement, Qualifications & Experience, and Management & Leadership. Programs can earn a rating of one to five stars based on the points they achieve.

“Receiving a 4-Star rating from Aspire, Quality Stars NY is a tremendous accomplishment for the Jim Dooley Childcare Center for Early Learning and a reflection of our commitment to providing high-quality early childhood experiences for the children and families we serve” said Todd Freelove, who is the newly appointed Director of Childcare at the Jim Dooley Center for Early Learning.

Freelove joined the Jim Dooley team as Director of Childcare in August. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the child-care industry to his new role.  

“I am also incredibly grateful for our current Director of Education, Roberta Yuan and her passion for early childhood education, as well as the dedication and support of our entire childcare team.  As the new Childcare Director, I am honored to build upon this foundation and continue working alongside our staff to provide an environment where every child can learn, grow, and thrive.”

The Jim Dooley Center for Early Learning, which opened its doors in 1989, is named after former Finger Lakes Health President and CEO Jim Dooley, who helped establish the center after an employee task force in the 1980s identified child care as a top concern for hospital staff.

Today, Finger Lakes Health employees and community residents can access care and programs for children from infancy through sixth grade, including after-school programs.

For registration information call 315-787-4191. The center also is hiring full- and part-time teachers. Learn more here.

Licensed by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), the Jim Dooley Center was also the first local child-care facility to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1997 for meeting high standards in early childhood education.

The center’s latest 4-Star QUALITYstarsNY rating is another example of Finger Lakes Health’s longstanding commitment to quality improvement and excellence across the services it provides to the children, families, patients, and communities it serves.